Folding table.



.5. R. ANDERSN.

FOLDING TABLE..

APPLICATION FILED IIIAII. 6, 191s.

Mfned Jan. 8, i918.,

3 SHEETS-SHEET i- J. R. ANDERSON.

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, I9I6. 1,252,766. Patented Jan. 8,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- J. R. ANDERSON.

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION mio mme, |916.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

FOLBING TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented dan. 8, i918.

Application inea March e, 191e. serial no. 82,379.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. ANDnRsoN,

a citizen of the United States, residing .at

Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, yhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is aspecification- This invention relates to tables and more particularly to a folding table adapted for a variety of uses which is substantial and rigid and presents, when extended, a pleasin(r appearance.

t is a principal object of my invention to rovide a table adapted to fold into a compact bundle occupying a relatively small space when compared with the dimensions of the extended table.

A further`object'of my invention is ,the provision of afolding-table in which the top as Well as the legs may `be folded, the legs lbeing disposed at the corners of the table leaving a 'free space'therebeneiith.

A further object ofmy invention is the provision of a table having a folding top and f permanently connected folding legs which may be quickly and rigidly disposed in supporting relation to the to with a. minimum of effort and without t e use of tools.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a folding table combining the greatest degree of compactness, when folded, with great rigidity, when extended, without the necessity of employing extended diagonal braces which would mar the appear-ance andinterfere with the utility of the table.

A `still further object of my invention is the provision in a table having permanently yconnected foldingi legs of means for adjusting the legs to ta e u 'any possible wear or shrinkage whereby t ie permanent rigidity of the table. is assured.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent;4 as it is better understood by reference to the followin s ecification when read in connection wit t e accompanying drawing illustratingthe preferred embodiment thereof in whiel'--f'- Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of the extended table;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of one end ofthe table partially folded 5 Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the appearance of the table when completely folded;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the underside of one end of the table illustrating one leg secured in supporting relation to the top and another in an intermediate position;

Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating the legs folded in position to allow the top of the table to be folded;

Fig. @is a detail in section of a portion of the top and one of the legs;

Fig. 7 is a detail in elevation of one corner of the table; i

Fi 8 is a vertical section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawing, the table tronsists of a top constructed of a plurality of longitudinally extending sections 5 and 6, the sections 5 being of the same width and the sections 6 being of lesser width for reasons which will appear hereafter. The sections 5 and 6 are connected at intervals by hinges 7 secured to the underside of the table top. Rigidly secured to each'of the outermost sections 5 are a pair of longitudinally extending members 8 forming channels with the sections 5 which materially strengthen the table top. The legs 9 are hingedly secured to the table topby means of members 10 secured to the outermost sections 5 between the longitudinally extending members 8 and connected to members 11 bv links 12. The members 11 are mounted to slide on the legs 9, being connected thereto by screws 12 (Fig. 7) secured to the legs 9 and operating in slots 13 in the members 11. The members 11 are provided with inwardly directed ortions 14: disposed in suitable openings ormed in the legs 9 and provide seats 15 for nuts 16 -threadedly engaging bolts 17, the heads 18 of which are disposed within re.- cesses 19 provided in the legs 9. It will be fapparent. that as the nuts 16 are rotated against the seats 15 the members 11 will be moved awa from the upper ends of the legs. This provi es an adjustment whereby wear or shrinkage of the legs 9 may be taken up.

separable transversely extendin members 20 are provided which are adapte to be disposed at each end of the table abutting the ends of the longitudinally extending members 8, as indicated in Fig. 4, the legs 9 being vrabbeted at 21 to provide seats for the memand the shoes 24 are disposed-in engagement withy the members 25 the transversely extending 'members 2O will be rigidlyclampecl in position to support the intermediate sectlons 5 and`6. Owing to the position of the pivotal points of the legs 9 the pressure applied to the ends thereof in securing the legs in supportingposition is enormously multiplied at the point of engagement of the legs 9 with the transversely extending members 20 and hence the rigidity of the structure is assured. Any -looseness due to wear or shrinkage may be takenup by operating the nuts 16 in the manner previously. described. Auxiliary transversely extending members 26 are secured 'by hinges 27 to one of the longitudinally extending members 8-at one side of the table and are adapted to be moved to the position indicated in Fig. 4 to engage locking devices 2S yon a longitudinally7 extending member 8 at the opposite side of thel table. The auxiliary members 26 provide suiicient support for the sections and 6 between the transversely extending members 20.

The normal lposition of the'parts of the table when in use is indicated in Fig. 1. When the table is no longer desired it may be v'rapidly folded in thefollowing manner. The table is first turned to the-position indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 with its top restin on a supporting surface. The shoes 24 o the braces 22 are released from the members 25 and the legs 9 are folded as indicated in Fig. 5. The auxiliary transversely extending members 26 are movedto the position indicated in Fig. 5 and the transversely extending members 20 are withdrawn and placed in the channel formed-by the longitudinally extending members `8 andthe outermost sections 5, as indicated in Fi 6, the ends of the members 2O being retained in position b `the ends of the legs 9. The outermost sectlon 5 at the side of the table is folded to a vertical position and then to the position indicated in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the narrower sections 6 are of sufficient width to form the sides of an inclosing structure for the longitudinally extending members 8 and the legs 9. The operation is repeated on the other side of the table and the sections are nally foldedv to the position indicated in Fig. 3, in which position they may be held by suitable fastening means, if desired, and the table may be stored in a minimum of space.

It will be readl appreciated that my improved folding ta le may be constructed of wood, metal or any other suitable material.

I have combined in my table the desirable features of great compactness when folded, since the folded table occupies a space but slightly greater than the volume of its parts, with ri idity and appearance equal to that of nonolding tables. It will be noted that the space beneath the table is entirely free Afrom extended diagonal braces and that therefore my table may be employed for any purposes for which ordinary non-folding tables are adapted.

It will be apparent that' various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A Afolding table consisting of a top comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending h1ngedly connected sections and a i longitudinally extending member secured to the underside of each of the outermost sections of said top, supporting legs hingedly connected to said outermost sections, means for securing said legs insupporting position, and transversely extending members adapted to be engaged and clamped by said legs against the ends of said longitudinally extending members and in engagement with the intermediate sections of said top.

2. A folding table consisting of a top comprising a plurality of longitudinally extendin chingedly connected sections anda longituhnally extending member secured to the utlersides of the outermost sections of said top, supporting vlegs hingedly connected to said outermost sections, means for securing said legs in supporting position, transversely extending members adapted to be engaged and clamped by said legs against the ends of said longitudinally extending members and in engagement with the intermediate sections of said top, and auxiliary transversely extendin members to sup ort said intermediate sectlons between said rstmentioned transversely extending members.

3. A folding table consistin` of a top comprising a plurality of longitu inall extending hingedly connected sections anc a longitudinal y extending member secured to the undersides of the outermost sectionsof said top, supporting legs hingedly connectedto said outermost sections, means for securing Said legs in supporting position, transversely extending members adapted to be engaged and clamped by said legs against the ends of said longitudinally extending members and in engagement with the intermediate sections of said top, and auxiliary transversely extending members hingedly connected to one of said longitudinally extending members and adapted to engage the other to su port said intermediate sections between said first-mentioned transversely extending memprising a plurality of longitu inally extending hingedly connected `sections and a pair of longitudinally extending members rigidly secured to the undersides of each ot' the outermost sections of said top, supporting legs, hinges connected to said legs at points spaced from the upper ends thereof and to said outermost sections, means for securing said legs in supporting position, transversely extending members adapted to be engaged and clamped by said legs against the ends of said longitudinally extending members and in engagement with the intermediate sections of said top, and auxiliary transversely `extending members to support said intermediate sections between said first-mentioned transversely extending members.

5. A folding table consisting of a top comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending hingedly connected sections anda pair of longitudinally extendin members rigidly secured to the undersi es of each of the outermost sections of said top, supporting legs, hinges connected t'o said legs at points spaced from the upper ends thereof and to said outermost sections, means for securing said legs in supporting position, transversely extending members adapted to be engaged and clamped by said legs against the ends of said longitudinally extending members and in engagement with the intermediate sections of said top, and auxiliary transversely extending members hingedly connected to one of said longitudinally extending members andadapted to` engage another at the opposite side of the table to support said intermediate sections between said first-mentioned transversely extending members.

6. A folding table consisting of a top comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending hingedly connected sections, legs, hinges secured to said legs at points spaced from the upper ends thereof and to said top, means for securing said legs in supporting position, and means for adjusting said legs relatively to said hinges.

7. A foldingtable consisting of a top comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending hingedly connected sections, legs, hinges connected to said legs at points spaced from the upper ends thereof and to said top, transverse members adapted to be held insupporting relation to the intermediate sections of said top by said legs, means for securing said legs in supporting position to clamp said members, and means for adjusting said legs relatively to said top and transverse members. y

8. A folding table consisting of a top comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending hingedly connected sections, a plurality of supporting legs hinges secured to said top and provided with members slidably engaging said leg, a bolt operatively engaging each leg, and a nut on each bolt operatively engaging the slidable member of the hinge whereby the position of the latter may be varied to adjust said legs with respect to said top.

JOHN R. ANDERSON. Witnesses:

Emo LARsoN, J. F. OHRBERG. 

